Affinity Designer vs Photopea
Affinity Designer is professional vector graphic design software with one-time purchase pricing, while Photopea is free online photo editor compatible with PSD, XCF, Sketch, and other formats. The biggest difference up front: Photopea is free, while Affinity Designer starts at $69.99 one-time. Affinity Designer is built for designers wanting professional tools without subscriptions, whereas Photopea targets anyone needing photoshop-like editing in the browser.
| Feature | Affinity Designer | Photopea |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier available | — | ✓ |
| Open source | — | — |
| Browser-Based | — | ✓ |
| Layers | — | ✓ |
| Multi-Platform | ✓ | — |
| One-Time Purchase | ✓ | — |
| PSD Import | ✓ | — |
| PSD Support | — | ✓ |
| RAW Support | — | ✓ |
| Vector Design | ✓ | — |
Pricing: Photopea is completely free (Free with ads), which makes it the obvious pick if budget is the top concern. Affinity Designer starts at $69.99 one-time. That cost buys you a more polished or feature-rich experience, so it comes down to whether the extras justify the spend.
Feature gaps: Affinity Designer offers Multi-Platform, One-Time Purchase and PSD Import that Photopea lacks. Photopea brings Browser-Based, Layers and PSD Support that Affinity Designer does not have.
Team fit: Both tools target individuals teams, so the decision hinges on features and workflow fit rather than scale.
Where each tool shines: Affinity Designer's biggest strengths are: vector design tools handle illustrations, icons, and ui assets at any resolution. includes one-time purchase as a core feature, purpose-built for design workflows. Photopea's biggest strengths are: psd file support lets you open and edit photoshop files directly. includes browser-based as a core feature, purpose-built for design workflows.
Watch out for: With Affinity Designer, users commonly note that starts at $69.99 one-time — on the expensive side, especially for small teams or solo users. With Photopea, the main complaint is that free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade.
choose Affinity Designer if
- You need a tool built for designers wanting professional tools without subscriptions
- You specifically need Multi-Platform and One-Time Purchase
- You care about includes one-time purchase as a core feature, purpose-built for design workflows
choose Photopea if
- You need a tool built for anyone needing photoshop-like editing in the browser
- Budget is a hard constraint — Photopea is free, Affinity Designer is not
- You specifically need Browser-Based and Layers
- You care about includes browser-based as a core feature, purpose-built for design workflows
- The free tier works for you: free with ads
frequently asked
What is the difference between Affinity Designer and Photopea?
Affinity Designer is professional vector graphic design software with one-time purchase pricing, while Photopea is free online photo editor compatible with PSD, XCF, Sketch, and other formats. The biggest difference up front: Photopea is free, while Affinity Designer starts at $69.99 one-time. Affinity Designer is built for designers wanting professional tools without subscriptions, whereas Photopea targets anyone needing photoshop-like editing in the browser.
Should I use Affinity Designer or Photopea?
Photopea is the free option; Affinity Designer charges $69.99 one-time but may offer more polish. Here is how they compare.
When should I choose Affinity Designer over Photopea?
Choose Affinity Designer if You need a tool built for designers wanting professional tools without subscriptions; You specifically need Multi-Platform and One-Time Purchase; You care about includes one-time purchase as a core feature, purpose-built for design workflows.
When should I choose Photopea over Affinity Designer?
Choose Photopea if You need a tool built for anyone needing photoshop-like editing in the browser; Budget is a hard constraint — Photopea is free, Affinity Designer is not; You specifically need Browser-Based and Layers; You care about includes browser-based as a core feature, purpose-built for design workflows; The free tier works for you: free with ads.
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